The sun was setting, casting its blood red rays
over the horizon. Karen, now wearing a man-style kimono and her hair tied over
her shoulder, was kneeling and washing the dishes in the yard. But her thoughts
were elsewhere.

This is too
dangerous ... even if my original motive was to stay close to the Kamia Dojo,
I don't think it was supposed to be this close! What was I thinking? Should I tell Himura the truth? She shook her head. Not yet ...
not when everything is so unclear. At least guarding the people here has become
easier ... although from what I can tell these people don't need any guarding. She smiled to herself.

"Karen-dono!" Kenshin's voice brought
her back. "It's getting late - what are you doing?"

"Washing dishes," she answered. "Kaoru-san
is with Yahiko-kun in the dojo." She rinsed the last plate. "There,
I'm done."

"Where are you from, Karen-dono?" Kenshin
asked as he helped her move the dishes to the kitchen.

"Kyoto," she answered promptly. "I
used to be an oiran -- later I met someone who took me as his concubine. Now
I wander where I please. But I'm surprised at you, Kenshin-san."

As soon as she was out of sight, she quietly
made her way next to the wall. With one jump she leapt on it, then lightly landed
on the other side. A figure was in the shadows, leaning against a tree.
It was long and lean, and the outline of a blade showed up faintly in the near-darkness.

"So ... you found your way inside," it
said in a bland, cool tone. "Once again you surprise me."

"You're the only human on this earth that gets
away with calling me a fool." The voice changed not an octave. "I'm
warning you though, keep your distance. If you become too close to them, there
will be future problems."

"I've never been close to anyone ever since
I became an oiran. I don't intend to start anytime soon. I'm as cold-blooded
as you are, and you know it."

"I have my doubts." A faint plume of blue
smoke rose from the figure's mouth. "But I suppose you can look out for
yourself. Till next time, then." The figure dropped its cigarette, squashed
it with its boot, and sauntered into the darkness.

"Chi ..." Karen made a movement of impatience
and leapt back over the wall. Almost wearily she entered Kaoru's room and spread
the sleeping rolls. She untied her katana, glanced at it for a moment, then
slid it under her blanket as she lay down and closed her eyes.

Sanosuke sauntered in soon after. "Sano, where've
you been? It's rather late," Kenshin asked, pausing in the act of closing
the gates.

"Just around. How about the young lady?"

"Karen-dono? She went to bed awhile ago. Why?"
Kenshin looked at him inquiringly.

"...nothing." Sanosuke stated to walk away, waving a farewell
to Kenshin. He thought about what he had just seen outside. ...I'll
keep an eye on her myself.

Karen took a deep breath of morning air. The day
dawned crisp and clear, promising to be fine. Dew still clung to the leaves
as she wandered through the bamboo forest, her katana dangling at her side.
She stopped in a clearing, gripping the hilt of her blade.

"Yah ~!" Karen suddenly, and with amazing speed, drew her sword
from its sheath and made a quick slash. Then she gathered her muscles and leapt
as high as she could.

"Yaht!" With another yell she did a half flip and slashed down
as she landed. As soon as her feet touched the ground she swiftly slid the blade
back into its sheath, then took on a stance as the bamboo stems started to slide
off their bases where she had cut them. With a single movement she took hold
of the sheath, pulled out her blade, and again sliced the stems. Following right
behind the blade came the sheath, hitting the wood full force. All of it shattered
into pieces. Breathing hard, Karen wiped her sweat and looked up at the blue
sky.

"Karen-dono." She heard Kenshin's voice
behind her.

"Konichiwa, Kenshin-san," She greeted him. "Do you always
wake up this early?"

"It's a habit," he shrugged and smiled.
"Where did you learn kenjitsu, Karen-dono?"

"From my sensei," she said insolently. Kenshin blinked. "^^;
oro..."

"Practice all you want, Kenshin-san, I'll be making breakfast."
Karen pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and started to walk back.

"Karen-dono," Kenshin couldn't help asking
something he had been thinking in the back of his head since yesterday. "Is
... Is your shishou, by any chance ... Hiko Seijuurou?"

"I believe that's your shishou." Karen was not to be fooled. "I was taught
kenjitsu by my father."

Kenshin watched her back until she disappeared.
Her blade, her skill ... I'm almost sure it is
mine ... but that's impossible. Shishou said he never had any other pupils ...
or did he? But I know for a fact he never married and had any children. Is there
another form of Hiten no Mitsurugi other than the one I learned?

"Karen-san!"

"Konichiwa, Kaoru-san." Karen looked up from the bread she was
making. "I hope you don't mind something different for breakfast. It's
something I learned from a cook from England."

Kaoru sniffed the bread baking on the fire. "It
smells fine to me. But you don't have to do this ... you are our guest, Karen-san."

"Please don't worry. I enjoy cooking."
Karen paused from kneading the bread, and her eyes had an unfocused look. "I
rarely have the chance to do anything so simple for anyone else...something
that does not required blood."

Kaoru wore an expression of concern, then replaced
it with a smile. "Karen-san, will you teach me how to make what you're
making?"

Yahiko was busy in the dojo, practicing down-strokes.
"...499, 500! That's it for this morning." He wiped the sweat off
his face and sniffed the air. "Something smells great."

"Morning, people." Sanosuke leaned against
the porch as Kaoru and Karen prepared breakfast. He stared at the rolls Karen
set on the table. "Whazzat?"

"Food," she replied. "Try it - it won't kill you, I promise."

"Which ones did you make, and which did Jo-chan
make?" he glanced at Kaoru, who returned his glance with a murderous glare.
Karen laughed. "^^; We made all of them together. Eat."

Sanosuke tore one in half and popped a piece into his mouth. "Say
... thif shuff tashtes great!" he exclaimed a moment later.

"Thank you, Sanosuke-san. Yahiko-kun, breakfast is ready." Karen
wiped her hands and looked up as both Yahiko and Kenshin approached the table.
"Help yourself."

Soon all was quite except the sound of contented chewing. Kaoru swallowed
what was in her mouth and turned to Karen. "Karen-san, would you like to
visit a dojo in the next village with me today? I was planning to visit anyway,
and since Yahiko has to work at the Akabeko today, I would love it if you would
come with me."

I would've followed you anyway if you had
left the dojo by yourself. Karen smiled to herself.
Aloud she said, "Of course, I would be glad to."